Echo TV was a Christian-conservative[1] Hungarian television channel owned and operated by Echo Hungária TV Zrt,[1] and founded in 2005 to cover business news.[2] Later focusing on news broadcasting and public affairs, it was known as a supporter of Fidesz and KDNP.[3]

Echo TV
CountryHungary
Broadcast areaHungary
HeadquartersAngol Street 65-69,
Budapest, 1149
Programming
Language(s)Hungarian
Picture format576i (16:9 SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerEcho Hungária TV Zrt
(part of Talentis Group)
History
LaunchedSeptember 15, 2005; 19 years ago (2005-09-15)
ClosedMarch 31, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-03-31)
Former namesTVN (2003–2004)
Echo TVN (2004–2005)
Links
Websitewww.echotv.hu

History

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TVN founded as Echo TVN as a business news channel in 2005[4] at the initiative of Gábor Széles, the 4th richest man of Hungary (as of 2017) and the head of Videoton and Ikarus Bus.[2] Széles had only days previously purchased Hungary's daily Magyar Hírlap; the acquisition of both stations helped Széles establish a major media presence in Hungary.[5] Széles reportedly spent two billion Hungarian forints in creating Echo TV.[6]

In 2006 Echo TV became a media partner of Feratel media technologies AG, based in Austria.[7]

Gábor Széles sold Echo TV to Fidesz-backed businessman and oligarch Lőrinc Mészáros on December 2, 2016.[2]

On December 4, 2017, the whole channel was renewed.[8] Echo TV ceased operations on March 31, 2019. Its staff and technical equipment were integrated into Hír TV, which had returned as a pro-government media portfolio after the 2018 parliamentary election.[9]

Association with far-right politics

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According to Le Monde, Echo TV was a forum favored among neofascists in Hungary.[10]

After the 2010 election in Hungary, Echo TV displayed an image of Imre Kertész, a Hungarian survivor of Auschwitz and nobel laureate, alongside a voiceover about rats.[11] Sándor Pörzse was a well-known host for Echo TV before helping to found Jobbik's paramilitary organization the "Hungarian Guard," later banned by the Hungarian Government.[12] Sándor Pörzse was removed from the Echo TV in 2009.[13]

One of Echo TV's better known broadcasters was Ferenc Szaniszló, known for his racist and anti-Semitic statements.[10][14][15][16][17][18] In 2011, Hungary's media regulator fined Echo 500,000 Forints after Szaniszló compared Roma people to "monkeys".[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b HAZÁNK LEGFRISSEBB TELEVÍZIÓJA LETT A KERESZTÉNY-KONZERVATÍV ECHO - András Kárpáti - Magyar Idők
  2. ^ a b c Nemzeti erők egyesítése: Új tulajdonosa van az Echo Televíziónak - Tamás Pindroch - Magyar Hírlap
  3. ^ Új tulajdonosa van az Echo TV-nek - Magyar Idők
  4. ^ "Rövidesen indul az ECHO TV". 3 June 2005. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Gábor Széles buys daily Magyar Hirlap". MTI Econews. 19 September 2005.
  6. ^ "Széles to Start TV Channel". EASTBUSINESS.ORG. 1 December 2005.
  7. ^ "Ots news: feratel media technologies AG". AWP OTS. 22 December 2006.
  8. ^ PÁLYÁRA ÁLL A MEGÚJULÓ ECHO TV - Attila Borsodi - Magyar Idők
  9. ^ Megszűnt az Echo TV, ám a Hír TV dolgozóit bocsátották el
  10. ^ a b Stolz, Joelle (29 March 2012). "Prime au fascisme en Hongrie". M - Le Monde. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Budapest Experiences A New Wave of Hate". Spiegel Online International. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  12. ^ Oehmke, Philipp (16 December 2011). "Hungary's Right-Wing War on Culture". Spiegel Online International.
  13. ^ "Ki védi meg az Echo Tv-t?". 20 March 2011.
  14. ^ "Tancsics Prize returned". 24 March 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-03-30. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  15. ^ Thorpe, Nick (18 March 2013). "Anger at Hungarian journalist prize". BBC News.
  16. ^ "Hungarian government awards Tancsics prize for journalism to notorious". 17 March 2013.
  17. ^ "Hungarian journalist to return state honor, denies anti-Semitism".
  18. ^ "Hungary asks reporter to return award over anti-Semitism row". Reuters. 20 March 2013. Archived from the original on 23 March 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  19. ^ "Hungary sparks outrage with honours for far-right figures". Agence France Presse. 17 March 2013.
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